Massive X updated - but still no support for NI keyboard poly aftertouch

Kymeia · 2025-03-26T18:33:44+00:00

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While it's nice to see any update for Massive X, I would have hoped the lack of support for the flagship feature of NI's own keyboards - poly aftertouch - would have been addressed by now.

It's absurd to have to switch my MkIII into mono aftertouch mode just to play Massive X

Why is this? (and we still don't have the ability to create our own preset banks)

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Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/43831/massive-x-updated-but-still-no-support-for-ni-keyboard-poly-aftertouch

Looks to me like just another typical "maintenance" release - few fixes, few tweaks etc just like all the other classic members (Massive, Battery 4 etc). I will take it and appreciate it.

But new features for a 2019 product is wishful thinking at this point.

Splicer

Also can we please just be able to load a preset with a single click? There's no good reason to have to double click to load a preset, it makes browsing so tedious. Just this one simple fix would increase my enjoyment of this synth.

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218431#Comment_218431

Actually it is more than that - it does have a new feature - a multi band compression effect - but just not the new features that users have really been asking for

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218434#Comment_218434

Not exactly what I would call a ground breaker - but OK.

Seems like a low hanging win that was easy to do - and there it is.

Kymeia

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218435#Comment_218435

No me neither - but then how difficult would it be to add user banks, or poly AT?

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218438#Comment_218438

Might be massively difficult - we have no idea what is involved with the code of this thing.

Maybe there is no one left over there from original design team and it's been relegated down to "easy win" mode where any junior developer can add a few simple things here and there to keep things active.

Happens all the time.

Kymeia

Banks would not be difficult as the functionality is already there (otherwise how are banks created by NI?) - they just haven't opened it up to users which is so ridiculous - you would think it would be obvious that if you create a great synth people would want to be able to create their own banks so patches could be organised and shared (or sold commercially - this is one reason why there so few third party patches for this synth)

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218471#Comment_218471

Probably had grand plans for Massive X before NI was sold in 2021. Oddly they do not seem in any rush to get those banks going.

Then again - here in 2025 - I still see Massive X as simply just another synth in amongst all the other synths out there.

chk071

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218435#Comment_218435

Not exactly what you like to call "maintenance" either.

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218935#Comment_218935

I know it aggravates you that this product is not moving forward - but Massive X has had a 7-year headstart - and if this was a major player in the NI portfolio - it would be a major player in the portfolio (like say Kontakt)

Until (if) I see a release that is bulging with actual exciting new features (and has a major version number - like 2.x) - for me personally - this product is firmly in maintenance mode.

Kymeia

It's a clear sign NI are still developing it and have said they have more plans for their synths in the coming year. It is not in maintenance mode and never was.

Therefore feature requests are perfectly valid, particularly given it desperately needs an update to the aftertouch to make it 100% compatible with the new keyboards.

Vocalpoint

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218962#Comment_218962

Understood - then where is it then?

The MKIII boards hit the street in September 2023. If getting Massive X dialled into them was a priority in any way - why wait 18+ months? By fall 2025 - the MKIII will already be looking like an "old" product.

And yes - I realize NI stated they "have plans" for their synths - but those plans (so far) have no form. Until they do - what exactly this means - is completely unknown.

Kymeia

Adding a new module is a signal NI have not given up on it - they may have mistakenly let it languish for too long - we all know why, they are not good at working on multiple lines at once, but it looks like they are turning their attention back to synths in general and Massive X as one of those.

chk071

"Until (if) I see a release that is bulging with actual exciting new features (and has a major version number - like 2.x) - for me personally - this product is firmly in maintenance mode."

Ok. From now on, you're in "maintenance mode" for me too. 😉

chk071

https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/218971#Comment_218971

I sincerely hope so. Massive X is way too good to be left in a state which has a lot of room for improvement.

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